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Fleas

Fleas are the most widespread external parasite for pet owners worldwide. Fleas not only annoy dogs and people but can carry disease and cause other health problems. Fleas carry tapeworm, cause an allergic skin condition in dogs called Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD) and are carriers of infectious agents. Fleas may also cause secondary skin infection and anaemia in puppies, older and also immuno-suppressed dogs. Severe infestations may even lead to death.

Flea-related diseases account for over 50% of skin disease cases reported to veterinarians. The vast majority of these conditions could be prevented by the regular use of a fast, effective flea treatment.

Break the Flea Lifecycle

Fleas have four main stages in their life cycle: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The total flea life cycle can range from a couple weeks to several months, depending on environmental conditions.

ADULT: Adult fleas prefer to live on the animal and their diet consists of blood meals courtesy of the host animal. The female flea can lay up to 50 white, roundish eggs per day.

EGG: Flea eggs are not sticky and they usually fall off of the animal into the carpet, bedding, floorboards, and soil. Eggs can hatch anytime from two daysto a few weeks, depending on environmental conditions.

LARVA The larval stage actually has three developmental stages within this stage. They eat the faeces of adult fleas (which is mostly dried blood) and other organic debris found in the carpet, bedding, and soil. Depending on the amount of food present and the environmental conditions, the larval stage lasts

PUPA: The pupa is the last stage before adult. The adult flea can emerge from the cocoon as early as 3 to 5 days, or it can stay in the cocoon for a year or more, waiting for the right time to emerge. Stimuli such as warm ambienttemperatures, high humidity, even the vibrations and carbon dioxide emitted from a passing animal will cause the flea to emerge from the cocoon faster.